The closing meeting of the ‘Menteşe Youth at Work Project’ was held at MSKÜ

The closing meeting of the ‘Youth at Work in Menteşe’ project, conducted under the coordination of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University (MSKÜ) in partnership with Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, Menteşe Municipality, and MUTSO, was held. Out of the 81 young people (aged 18-29) who received training within the scope of the project, 71 were employed.

The project, which started in August 2023 under the financial cooperation between Turkey and the European Union, aimed to increase the employability of young people who are not in education or employment in food and beverage businesses. It was conducted under the coordination of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University (MSKÜ) in partnership with Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, Menteşe Municipality, and the Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MUTSO).

The program, held at the MSKÜ Atatürk Cultural Center, was attended by Muğla Deputy Governor Ali Yılmaz, Acting Rector of MSKÜ Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülgen, MUTSO President Bülent Karakuş, İŞKUR Provincial Director Zahide Altınok, Menteşe Mayor Gonca Köksal, Head of the European Union and Foreign Relations Department of the Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Celal Cem Dengiz, Project Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Işıl Arıkan Saltık, and project members.

The program began with a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem, followed by the closing presentation by Project Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Işıl Arıkan Saltık.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saltık stated that training was provided to 81 young people in six different occupational groups, including cooking, pastry, barista, bartending, service staff, and head waiter, and that 71 of the trained individuals aged 18-29 were employed.

Following this, project partners Bülent Karakuş, Gonca Köksal, Celal Cem Dengiz, and Zahide Altınok each spoke about the benefits of the project.

Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülgen, Acting Rector of MSKÜ, emphasized that this project is one that touches people and includes education, stating, “As a university, we attach great importance to cooperation. It was a very nice study. I thank everyone who contributed.”

After the speeches, project trainee Mertcan Ramazan Demir shared his experiences about the process with the participants.

In the afternoon session of the program, where the results obtained from the project were shared, a panel titled ‘Employment Opportunities for NEETs’, ‘Food and Beverage Sector and NEETs’, and ‘NEETs and Career Management’ was organized.

The program concluded with the delivery of certificates to the NEETs who were eligible to receive them.